Temple University Athletics
Dre Perry’s Drive Comes from the Heart
7.27.17 | Men's Basketball
De'Vondre "Dre" Perry didn't sit at the waterfront and watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July with his friends. Instead, he went to the gym by himself and worked on his shot.
"I really want to be great at the game of basketball," Perry said. "I see all of these other players who weren't that good when they were younger and they worked hard and now they are in the NBA and that's my dream."
The only difference is Perry has always been good at basketball. When he was four years old his mom signed him up for a recreation league that was for five and six-year-olds.
"There was this one game and I kept shooting the same shot in the same spot of the floor the whole game from the baseline," Perry said. "It was super far for me, I just remember the ball going through the hoop."
Perry's success only continued from that recreation league. When he was in seventh grade Perry started playing AAU basketball in North Carolina. He scored 20 or more points every game at one tournament.
But just because things were going well on the hardwood didn't mean Perry's life was perfect. In fact, it was far from that. During his freshman year of high school, Perry's mom was diagnosed with heart failure.
Soon after his mom's diagnosis, Perry and his family moved from their home in North Carolina to Baltimore so his mom could participate in the Johns Hopkins program.
"I have that same coming from a struggling story as everyone else," Perry said. "Everything wasn't given to me."
After enrolling in a new school, Perry continued to face new struggles as he saw his GPA drop from a 3.6 to a 2.2. But using his mom as inspiration, he brought his GPA back up to a 4.0.
"The school was hard," Perry said. "I just took study hall serious and paid attention more in class and asked questions and I ended up with a 4.0."
"My advice to younger ones going through it, I'd tell them that school is first," Perry added. "If the basketball stops bouncing you have to have something to fall back on."
Perry wasn't just defying the odds in the classroom, he was also defying the odds on the court. His senior year Perry led Polytechnic Institute to its first team state championship in school history.
"It was probably one of the best feelings I have ever felt in my life," Perry said. "It was real crazy to make history at my high school and to leave my legacy."
Watching Perry make history was really no surprise to anyone who knew him. Every time he steps on the court he plays for his mom, the one who taught him how to defy the odds.
"When she was diagnosed with heart failure the doctor told her she only had a year to live," Perry said. "And it's been four years."
Family comes first to Perry, which makes it no surprise that he chose Temple. Not only is it only two hours away from his mom, who goes to every one of his basketball games, but his grandfather also went to Temple.
"He was the first person to put a basketball in my hand," Perry said. "He passed away when I was five years old, but I'm very excited about it. It feels like I'm making my family proud as well as that I am doing it."
Looking back, Perry doesn't regret missing the fireworks to work on his shot because it got him to where he is today, a chance to play for a Division I university and earn a college education.
"It's very relieving," Perry said. "A lot of people from where I'm from don't make it (to college) for a sport."
But more importantly, Perry has given his mom a reason to smile.
"I play well and play hard and give it my all because if she sees me doing that she will be happy," Perry said. "Cherishing every moment with my mom and keeping her happy is really what keeps me going, I love her being happy."
OwlsTV's Morgyn Seigfried talks with Dre Perry - Click here to watch video
"I really want to be great at the game of basketball," Perry said. "I see all of these other players who weren't that good when they were younger and they worked hard and now they are in the NBA and that's my dream."
The only difference is Perry has always been good at basketball. When he was four years old his mom signed him up for a recreation league that was for five and six-year-olds.
"There was this one game and I kept shooting the same shot in the same spot of the floor the whole game from the baseline," Perry said. "It was super far for me, I just remember the ball going through the hoop."
Perry's success only continued from that recreation league. When he was in seventh grade Perry started playing AAU basketball in North Carolina. He scored 20 or more points every game at one tournament.
But just because things were going well on the hardwood didn't mean Perry's life was perfect. In fact, it was far from that. During his freshman year of high school, Perry's mom was diagnosed with heart failure.
Soon after his mom's diagnosis, Perry and his family moved from their home in North Carolina to Baltimore so his mom could participate in the Johns Hopkins program.
"I have that same coming from a struggling story as everyone else," Perry said. "Everything wasn't given to me."
After enrolling in a new school, Perry continued to face new struggles as he saw his GPA drop from a 3.6 to a 2.2. But using his mom as inspiration, he brought his GPA back up to a 4.0.
"The school was hard," Perry said. "I just took study hall serious and paid attention more in class and asked questions and I ended up with a 4.0."
"My advice to younger ones going through it, I'd tell them that school is first," Perry added. "If the basketball stops bouncing you have to have something to fall back on."
Perry wasn't just defying the odds in the classroom, he was also defying the odds on the court. His senior year Perry led Polytechnic Institute to its first team state championship in school history.
"It was probably one of the best feelings I have ever felt in my life," Perry said. "It was real crazy to make history at my high school and to leave my legacy."
Watching Perry make history was really no surprise to anyone who knew him. Every time he steps on the court he plays for his mom, the one who taught him how to defy the odds.
"When she was diagnosed with heart failure the doctor told her she only had a year to live," Perry said. "And it's been four years."
Family comes first to Perry, which makes it no surprise that he chose Temple. Not only is it only two hours away from his mom, who goes to every one of his basketball games, but his grandfather also went to Temple.
"He was the first person to put a basketball in my hand," Perry said. "He passed away when I was five years old, but I'm very excited about it. It feels like I'm making my family proud as well as that I am doing it."
Looking back, Perry doesn't regret missing the fireworks to work on his shot because it got him to where he is today, a chance to play for a Division I university and earn a college education.
"It's very relieving," Perry said. "A lot of people from where I'm from don't make it (to college) for a sport."
But more importantly, Perry has given his mom a reason to smile.
"I play well and play hard and give it my all because if she sees me doing that she will be happy," Perry said. "Cherishing every moment with my mom and keeping her happy is really what keeps me going, I love her being happy."
OwlsTV's Morgyn Seigfried talks with Dre Perry - Click here to watch video
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